Book-support



E. F. JEWBLL.

2 SheetsSheet 1.

BOOK SUPPORT.

Patented Oct. 12, 1897.

Ill] Ini lMfi ll (No Model.)

[1V VEN TOR Allamey WITNESSES I V I i:

(No Model.) 2 Sheets$heet 2,

B. F. JEWELL.

BOOK SUPPORT.

No. 591,765. Patented Oct. 12,1897;

H [T/VESSES Attorney UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC ERNEST F. JEWELL, OF LAKE CITY,'MINNESOTA.

BooK-suPPo T.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 591,765, dated October 12 1897.

Application filed March 13, 1897. Serial No. 627,283. g No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST F. J EWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lake City, in the county of \Vabasha andState of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Book-Supports; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. 7

The object of this invention is to provide a book rest or carriage for bookkeepers use, presenting a device of this character which will facilitate the labor and work of posting on a large set of books by so supporting the ledger, journal or cash-book, and index that they can be quickly moved to bring them in front of the bookkeeper instead of requiring him to walk from book to book. In posting on a large set-of books the labor of walking back and forth from book to book is very tiresome, and by the use of my improved support or carriage the books can be moved or slid to accommodate the bookkeeper.

With the above objects in view this invention consists in providing a book support or carriage comprising a board having depending bearing-plates with horizontal slots in which are journaled grooved rollers, in connection with a frame forming a track upon which the rollers of the carriage travel, and laterally-projecting flanges that engage retaining-plates depending from the side edges of the board or support.

The invention further consists in the particular construction and the combination of parts, as hereinafter fully set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a sliding book -support constructed in accordance with my invention, a part of the retaining-plate being broken away. Fig. 2 is an end view of the support or carriage, and Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view. Fig. 4 is a detail plan View of the track-frame.

Referring to the drawings by letters and numerals, 1 designates the board or body of the carriage,which is provided near each end with a set of rollers, by which it is supported. The bearings or brackets in which these rollers are journaled are all constructed alike. Therefore a description of one will answer for the others. Each bearingis made up of two angleplates 3 3, presenting a m ember a, by which the said brackets are secured to the under side of the board 1, and at right angles with the member a is a depending member I), having a longitudinal slot Z), the upper edge of which is provided with an outwardly-projecting flange b forming an increased bearing-surface. The plates 3 3 are so placed or secured to the under side of the board that a space is left between the depending members I) b to receive the rollers 2, said rollers having stub-shafts c and adjoining hubs c,the latter bearin g against the inner side of the depending members bof the bearing plates, while the former extend through the slots to bear therein and against the'projecting flange. By providing this sort ofbearing for the rollers they are permitted to have a longitudinal movement in addition to their rotation. This carriage is adapted to travel on a track provided therefor, presenting an open framework having longitudinal side pieces 4 4, connected at their ends by cross-pieces 5 5,the longitudinal side pieces being provided on their upper sides with rails 6, curved in cross-section, the rollers 2 being grooved to correspond with the curve of the rails.

It may be here stated that the under side of the board or body 1 of the carriage is provided with recesses 7 immediately above the bearing for the rollers in order to locate the upper end of said rollers in the recesses and form a construction presenting a low carriage without reducing the size of the Wheels or rollers.

The frame which provides the tracks for the carriage is provided centrally with a crosspiece 8, extending above the plane of the rails and beveled from the side pieces 4 inward, as shown, this cross-piece forming a bufier or stop-block to limit themovement of the carriage upon the rails, for this purpose acting in connection with stops 9, located between the outer ends of the bearings or hangers in which the rollers are journaled.

In order to prevent the carriage having a longitudinal movement or jumping the rails, the member or body 1 is provided at its side edges with depending pieces 10, having inwardly-projecting plates or strips 11 at their lower ends, which engage laterally-projecting flanges l2, projecting from the side pieces of the track. These depending pieces 10 also conceal the rollers and permit the carriage to present an ornamental appearance.

In order to secure the carriage against movement when it is desired to store the device when not in use, the carriage is provided with hooks 13, which engage a staple or headed pin 14 on the ends of the track-frame.

From the foregoing description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction of the carriage will be readily understood, and in use the several books which are to be posted are placed upon the board or platform 1 and the carriage can be slid from side to side to bring the several books alternately or successively in front of the bookkeeper, and the peculiar form of bearings permits a comparatively shorter track-section to be used and also reduces the friction upon the rollers. This carriage is preferably mounted upon a high desk, and the bookkeeper may stand in front of the same during the process of posting and will be relieved from walking back and forth from book to book; but it will be understood that the device can be mounted upon a lower desk, which will allow the bookkeeper to be seated. This arrangement provides a very simple and effective means for quickly bringing the books in position to be posted.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A device to facilitate the posting of books, com prisin ga track-section having rails, a carriage mounted upon the rails and presenting a board or platform having rollers journaled in brackets or bearings depending therefrom;

together with a bufier or stop-block mounted v centrally in the track-section, and stops on -cross-pieces depending from the carriage to engage the stop-block, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

2. A device to facilitate the posting of books, comprising a track-section having rails, a carriage mounted upon the track-section andflanges on the track-section, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination in a device to facilitate the posting of books, 'of a track-section having rails and laterally-projecting flanges, to.- gether with a carriage comprising a board or platform, bearings or angle-plates depending from the platform and having longitudinal slots with outwardly-projecting flanges at their upper edges, and side pieces depending from the carriage and having inwardly-projecting plates which engage the flanges of the track-section,the parts being constructed and organized substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ERNEST F. JEWELL.

WVitnesses:

A. G. FOWLER, W. A. HUBBARD. 

